Wellpoint & AHA Bring CPR Training kits to Jackson

JACKSON, Tenn. — The Wellpoint Foundation and the American Heart Association collaborated to provide hands-only CPR kits here in Jackson and across the state.

Over the next weeks, West Tennessee Healthcare, The Wrap Center, The City of Jackson Recreation and Parks, as well as the Jackson Madison County School System will receive these training kits.

“We will distribute about a thousand kits across West Tennessee and each kit will include a manikin and the instruction video so they can actually practice the compression skills,” said Natalie Cooper, President and CEO of Wellpoint.

Wellpoint’s goal is to bridge the gap between those in need of immediate help to trained emergency specialist.

“From a bystander to a life-saver is something that we’re really really excited about so we don’t want people to feel helpless, we want them to be encouraged to know that they have the tools to become lifesavers throughout the community in Tennessee,” said Cooper.

American Heart Association’s goal is to create more lifesavers in the community across the states.

“Its really to ensure that we are not only preparing our community partners but we are turning people into life savers. So we know that they have the tools necessary to hold on and potentially save a life, while emergency responders get on the scene,” said Cooper.

Over 35 thousand cardiac arrests occur outside of the hospital in the United States and 90 percent of people who suffer outside of the hospital die according to the American Heart Association.

Which is why both organizations teamed up to lower these numbers.

“They actually had a need and wanted to ensure that they wanted to participate in this train the trainer opportunity. So we actually reached out to all of our organizations and these were the first ones that reached out to support and provide this training with their community members,” said Cooper.

Wellpoint says that providing these opportunities to their partners across the state will help share more information on their purpose across the states.

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